CVE-2011-3219 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in CoreMedia, as used in Apple iTunes before 10.5, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted movie file with H.264 encoding.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3219 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Apple's CoreMedia framework that was extensively utilized in iTunes versions prior to 10.5. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of H.264 encoded movie files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious media content through various attack vectors. The CoreMedia framework serves as a fundamental component for media processing and playback across Apple's ecosystem, making this vulnerability particularly impactful as it could potentially compromise the entire media handling pipeline.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs during the parsing and processing of H.264 encoded video files within the iTunes application. When a maliciously crafted movie file is processed, the buffer overflow condition manifests as the application fails to properly validate the size of data structures used for H.264 decoding, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking enables attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the memory management routines within CoreMedia's H.264 decoder, which is responsible for parsing the complex video stream structures that define H.264 encoded content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for users of affected iTunes versions. Attackers could craft malicious H.264 files designed to trigger the buffer overflow condition when opened in iTunes, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the iTunes process. This capability significantly increases the risk of system compromise, as iTunes typically runs with elevated privileges on many systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that users could be compromised simply by opening or previewing a malicious file, without requiring any additional user interaction beyond the initial media playback attempt.
The exploitability of CVE-2011-3219 aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the successful exploitation could lead to privilege elevation within the application context. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through compromised client applications. The attack surface is particularly broad given iTunes's widespread use and the prevalence of H.264 encoded content on the internet, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit the largest possible user base.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching and updating of affected iTunes versions to 10.5 or later, which contain the necessary memory validation fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability affects not just individual users but also enterprise environments where iTunes may be used for media management. Additional protective measures include implementing content filtering for media files, particularly those from untrusted sources, and educating users about the risks of opening unknown or suspicious media files. Network-based solutions such as intrusion prevention systems can also be configured to detect and block known malicious H.264 file patterns that may trigger this vulnerability, providing an additional layer of defense for environments where immediate patching may not be feasible.